Motion and Movement

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infoWhy this? Understanding movement, levers, linkages, cams, and followers enables us to explain how mechanisms transfer or transform force and motion. Applying this knowledge to a cam-and-follower toy connects technical understanding with purposeful design, CAD, and packaging communication.

scheduleWhy now? Having developed initial design, material, and CAD skills, we can now focus more closely on how products operate, rather than only how they look or are constructed. Earlier CAD experience is applied with greater purpose to create components that produce a controlled mechanical outcome.

There are different types of movement: linear, rotary, reciprocating, and oscillating.
A lever is a rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point called a fulcrum.
A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and the load.
A second-class lever has the load between the fulcrum and the effort.
A third-class lever has the effort between the fulcrum and the load.
Linkages are mechanisms made from levers that are connected together to transfer force and motion.
Cams are specially shaped discs or cylinders used to convert rotary motion into linear or reciprocating motion.
Different cam profiles, such as pear-shaped, snail, heart, and eccentric, produce different follower movements.
Followers are components that rest on the cam and move in response to its shape.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer software to create, modify, analyse, or optimise a design.
Advantages of CAD include increased accuracy, ease of modification, and the ability to quickly produce prototypes.
Disadvantages of CAD include high initial costs, the need for training, and potential technical issues.
A net is a two-dimensional shape that can be folded to form a three-dimensional object.
Packaging design must consider both function, such as protection and containment, and aesthetics, such as visual appeal and theme.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

Identify and describe the type of movement, such as linear, rotary, reciprocating, or oscillating, in a given mechanism.
Classify levers by their class and label the fulcrum, effort, and load on diagrams.
Analyse simple linkages to explain how input motion is transferred or changed.
Identify different cam profiles and describe the resulting follower movement.
Design a cam and follower mechanism to achieve a specified movement in a toy.
Use basic tools in 2D Design software to create and edit shapes, lines, and text.
Design and create a net for a specified three-dimensional packaging form.
Create an informative and visually appealing packaging design that communicates a chosen theme.

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